1989 Matamoros Cult Killings

Mark Kilroy was a 21 year old University of Texas - Austin student on Spring break when he went missing on March 13, 1989 in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico.  Arrests were made a month later at Rancho Santa Elena homestead which turned out to be the site of occult killings and rituals.

Police unearthed bodies at Rancho Santa Elena

Drug cult leader Adolfo de Jesus Costanzo called "El Padrino" was a serial killer and fortune-teller who practiced black magic form called "Santeria" and Palo Mayombe.

Sara Maria Aldrete was an active student at Texas Southmost Colege who no one would have ever suspected as being involved with a murderous cult.  She was known as  "La Madrina" 

 May 7, 1989 Sarah Aldrete probably giving false testimony about her involvement in the murders.

 Cult members under arrest in Mexico City

 This "Nganga" is a cauldron of chicken parts and blood was probably used in a ritualistic killing on the ranch where twelve bodies were discovered including that of Mark Kilroy.

 This cauldron contained bones, a turtle shell, head and claws of a rooster, a goat's head and a horseshoe.  The ranch was discovered after a cult member ran a checkpoint at bridge and led authorities on chase that led them to ranch were occupants were arrested and gruesome discoveries were made which shocked the nation.

 This is probably the cult member who believed he was under a magic spell that would make him invisible and protect him from authorities while crossing drugs or money across the border.

 Alvaro de Leon Valdez a.k.a. "El Ruby" arrested in Mexico City

 One of several graves discovered on ranch

 Ranch shack where mutilated bodies, including that of Mark Kilroy, were discovered

 Kilroy family members attended memorial services in Brownsville, Texas for their son Mark.

 Mark Kilroy's mother and brother

Memorial service in Santa Fe, Texas.

These news media photos were sent by an anonymous Bronsbil Estacion reader who probably copied them from Ebay.  Additional photo borrowed from internet sources.  Search topics such as "Matamoros cult killings" or "Mark Kilroy murders" or "Adolfo de Jesus Costanzo" for more gruesome photos and additional information.  Several books have been written about these cult killings.  Tourism in Brownsville and South Padre Island was significantly affected by the publicity of this tragedy and Brownsville / SPI tourism was never the same after this.